Rick Perry condemns Obama decision to reduce troops on Mexican border

Gov. Rick Perry greeted President Obama upon his arrival in Austin last August with a request for federally funded National Guard troops. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry responded swiftly and furiously today to our exclusive report on the Obama administration’s place to reduce the number of National Guard troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border. The president also is redeploying military assets to focus more on aerial detection and intelligence operations.

Perry has been seeking an expansion — to 1,000 — of Texas National Guard troops paid for by federal funds “until adequate Border Patrol staffing levels are achieved.”

Here’s the statement released by the governor’s Austin office:

“President Obama’s decision to slash the number of National Guard troops patrolling and securing our southern border is proof that this administration has no intention to truly secure the border or listen to the American citizens, communities and law enforcement who care about border security and public safety.

“After spending billions on failed federal stimulus and bolstering job-killing regulatory agencies in Washington, President Obama now says he can’t find the funds to maintain even current National Guard troop levels to protect us against crime at the border. Cutting border troop levels adds insult to the injury of the Obama Administration attacking states that have been forced to take immigration matters into their own hands.

“This decision is all the more appalling given the actions of Attorney General Eric Holder, who let thousands of guns fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels through the botched Fast and Furious program. Now is not the time to cut security efforts.

“We need more, not fewer, boots on the ground, as well as strategic fencing, surveillance technology, air and marine resources, working in coordination to truly secure the border. Cutting National Guard troop levels at the border is dangerous to America’s national security, and I urge President Obama to reconsider this ill-advised decision.”